The data suggests that microtubule-associated serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (MAST1) mediates cisplatin resistance in HNSCC by phosphorylating MEK1, triggering cRaf-independent activation of MEK1, which led to down regulation of BH3 only protein BIM. The gene discussed is MAST1; the disease is head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.